City of Goleta to host Homelessness Strategic Plan Open House Wednesday

GOLETA, Calif. - The City of Goleta has shared sobering statistics linked to local homelessness.

"What we're learning within the City of Goleta, we really have a different population," said Dominique Samario, Management Analyst for the City of Goleta.

The City shared information and statistics from its fact sheet ahead of Wednesday's event:

• The average age of people experiencing homelessness in Goleta is 52-years-old.
• The average time people remain homeless in the area is more than six years.
• 85% of Goleta's homeless population are men; 15% are women. 
• The most recent Unsheltered count put the number of Goleta's homeless at 119.

Samario said the goal of Wednesday's Open House is to bring residents, students, homeless people and providers together to share ideas; a think tank, of sorts.

"What we're learning within the City of Goleta, we really have a different population," Samario said. "We tend to have a population who's a bit older than other houseless residents of the County of Santa Barbara. We also have a high percentage of people living in their vehicles."

Here's another stat gleaned from the City's fact sheet:

• 56% of homeless people living in vehicles are men; 44% are women.

Samario said opening up a new warming center in town is one suggestion that's already on the City's radar. (Currently, the closest warming center to open is in Isla Vista, when temperatures dip below 35 degrees or there is a 50% chance of overnight rain.)

Wednesday's Open House starts at 4:00 p.m. and goes until 6:00 p.m. at the Goleta Valley Community Center at 5679 Hollister Avenue. 

For more information, click here: ps://www.cityofgoleta.org/projects-programs/studies-and-other-projects/homelessness-strategic-plan